SolarScape
With Rotterdam aiming to rapidly expand its housing stock, the municipality and developers are trying to find a way to densify the city without plunging its public space into darkness. In an increasingly data-driven environment, can we create tools to maximise urban density while also maximising sunlight in the city? And in the process, can we demonstrate the potential of a shift from absolute urban regulations to performance-based constraints?
- Location
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Status
- Design
- Year
- 2019
Developed by MVRDV NEXT, SolarScape helps to evaluate the impact of new developments on daylight exposure. The software acts as a tool for simulating the performance of urban spaces and negotiating the design of new additions to the urban landscape. MVRDV’s proposed new workflow consciously calculates and considers “sunspots”, following a new policy in the municipality’s 2019 High-Rise Vision which dictates that new developments should not cast shadows on key public spaces from spring to autumn.
The new sunspot policies replace absolute constraints – for example, a blanket limit on the height of new buildings – with performance-based constraints – such as allowing much taller buildings, as long as their shape respects the sunlight requirements – thus allowing developers to explore a wider range of possibilities. SolarScape visualises the impact of public policy on urban developments, using a voxelised version of virtual city models and environmental daylight simulations to visualise the three-dimensional space now available to developers. It can therefore serve as a tool for negotiation between developers and municipalities, ensuring high-quality, publicly beneficial additions to the city.
By focusing on preserving and enhancing sun exposure, especially in key public areas, cities can improve the health and well-being of their residents, reduce lighting requirements and therefore energy consumption, and contribute to a better urban ecosystems. As a framework, SolarScape is also adaptable to different contexts: In a city like Rotterdam, SolarScape can help optimise street-level daylight; while in warmer regions, it could assist in creating more shade. In both cases, SolarScape helps to emphasise the importance of climate-responsive urban planning.
SolarScape exemplifies this shift, offering developers and municipalities a tool to evaluate the long-term benefits of sunlight-focused policies while fostering smarter, and more energy-efficient cities. This tool not only has the power to influence policy decisions but also to significantly improve the quality and liveability of cities.
Gallery
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Past events
Credits
- Architect
- Design team
- Concept phase:
- Sanne van der Burgh
- Leo Stuckardt
- Boudewijn Thomas
- Yayun Liu
- IABR Exhibition:
- Leo Stuckardt
- Yayun Liu
- Nicholas Bouchard
- Changqing Ye
- Partners
- Co-architect:
- Studio AvW